Patents Examined by David Lee
  • Patent number: 6129542
    Abstract: A dual mode pilot burner having a control flame mode of operation and a pilot flame mode of operation, which dual mode pilot burner is suitable for controlling the fuel/air ratio of a main burner when operating in the control flame mode of operation. The dual mode pilot burner includes a burner body having a control flame holder and a pilot flame holder disposed downstream of the control flame holder, a mixing chamber having a fuel gas inlet, an oxidant inlet, and a mixed gas outlet, which mixed gas outlet is in fluid communication with the control flame holder and a fuel gas control valve for controlling a fuel gas flow rate through the fuel gas inlet into the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Gautam Gauba, Charles Edward Benson, Johannes H. J. Thijssen, Peter Joseph Loftus, Roberto Ottavio Pellizzari, Stephen Carl Licht
  • Patent number: 6126438
    Abstract: A burner apparatus comprises a conduit adapted to convey preheated oxidant and having outlet and inlet ends, and a conduit adapted to convey preheated fuel and having outlet and inlet ends. The conduit adapted to convey preheated fuel is substantially parallel to the conduit adapted to convey preheated oxidant. The conduit adapted to convey preheated oxidant is positioned substantially vertically above the conduit adapted to convey preheated fuel. The conduit adapted to convey preheated oxidant and the conduit adapted to convey preheated fuel each are positioned within its own respective elongate cavity in a refractory burner block. Each of the conduits are positioned in their respective cavity such that a substantially annular region is present between an outer surface of each conduit and its respective cavity. Each conduit inlet end extends through a respective plenum for receiving an ambient temperature fluid, the plenums adapted to pass the ambient temperature fluid into the respective annular regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignees: American Air Liquide, L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et, l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Mahendra L. Joshi, Arnaud Fossen, Harley A. Borders, Remi P. Tsiava, Olivier Charon
  • Patent number: 6123064
    Abstract: A heating system has a modular section which can be converted to use as a store or boiler and to burn either solid or liquid and gaseous fuels. The system can be further expanded by addition of more than one module to increase the heating capacity of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Inventor: Patrice Jacquet
  • Patent number: 6123540
    Abstract: A heavy oil emulsion fuel combustion apparatus is arranged, in a combustion apparatus using a heavy oil emulsion fuel, to prevent a decrease in the combustion efficiency due to water content in the fuel and to prevent an increase in the sulfuric acid dew point due to water content in the exhaust gas. A heavy oil emulsion fuel 101 from a fuel tank 100 is led to a fuel heater 110 and is heated. Then the heated heavy oil emulsion fuel 102 is led to a water content evaporator 120. In the water content evaporator 120, the heavy oil emulsion fuel 102 is heated by the use of extraction steam from a steam turbine facility 160 or steam produced through a steam converter 166, and the resulting fuel is led to a steam separator 140. In the steam separator 140, the fuel 111 is separated into steam and light oil combustible gas vapor 121 and a heavy oil portion 122, the latter 122 being used as boiler fuel 131.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kan Ogata, Akira Yamada, Kimishiro Tokuda, Toshimitsu Ichinose, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Yasuo Souda, Satoshi Uchida, Syozo Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6120282
    Abstract: A glass-ceramic plate has at least one opening which is intended to house an atmospheric gas burner. At least part of the edge of the opening is polished and the opening is at the top of a local deformation of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Eurokera
    Inventors: Pablo Vilato, Michel Grassi
  • Patent number: 6119679
    Abstract: A support housing for portable grill for storing and supporting a grill in a spaced apart relation from a ground surface. The support housing for portable grill includes a housing that has a base panel and a peripheral sidewall upwardly extending from the base panel. The peripheral sidewall defines an interior of the housing. A base portion of the grill is insertable in the interior of the housing. An upper rim of the grill is positioned towards an upper rim of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas A. Galvin
  • Patent number: 6116892
    Abstract: A safety flint type lighter includes a striker blade having a striking surface which is in contact with the flint slidably mounting on a blade-track provided on the inner side of the supporting walls and a resilient element normally retaining and urging itself vertically and driving the striking surface of the striker blade to rapidly slide on the flint for striking spark. A locking latch is downwardly protruded from the top end of said pusher button facing said gas emitting nozzle. Operating the lighter, the pusher button is depressed and pulled outward wherein the depressed locking latch griping the resilient element and bending the resilient element. The resilient element is released at a point and driven the striker blade on the flint for generating spark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: John Jiin Chung Yang
  • Patent number: 6109911
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides in a combustion apparatus provided with a tubular furnace. The method comprises burning odor gases at first sub-stoichiometrically, and subsequently supplying additional air to the furnace (3) in the transverse direction thereof in such a manner that the final air ratio is over 1. The arrangement comprises an additional air duct (7) which extends to the furnace of the boiler and from which additional air is supplied to the furnace (3) in the transverse direction of the furnace (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping Oy
    Inventors: Ari Tamminen, Risto Syrjalainen, Heikki Koivuniemi, Erkki Valimaki
  • Patent number: 6109257
    Abstract: The present invention encompasses a modular chimney having a fireplace, a smoke chamber, and a plurality of modular blocks, forming at least one stack of blocks, the stack of modular blocks defining a chimney passage that is in fluid communication with the smoke chamber for the passage of combustion products. Alternatively, in a second embodiment, the modular chimney may also include a plurality of angled blocks, forming at least one angled stack of angled blocks, the angled stack of angled blocks defining an angled chimney passage that is in fluid communication with the smoke chamber and the chimney passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventors: Deborah L. Hodge, James Roe Hodge, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6102028
    Abstract: A smoker attachment for heating and burning smoker particles in a barbecue grill. The smoker attachment includes a housing having a side wall, end wall, and bottom wall fining a cavity therein. The bottom wall of the housing has a plurality of openings and the side walls have a plurality of corresponding cutouts adjacent the bottom wall such that the cutouts in the side walls cooperate with the openings in the bottom wall. The openings provide access to the cavity of the housing such that a conductive member within the barbecue grill is able to contact the housing adjacent the opening to position the housing within the bottom chamber of the barbecue grill. The conductive member further passes through the opening of the housing into the cavity of the housing to define a portion of the perimeter of the cavity for directly contacting and heating the smoker particles within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products Co.
    Inventors: Erich J. Schlosser, Edna Schlosser, Robert T. Stephen
  • Patent number: 6085738
    Abstract: A burner has a burner tube and a nozzle holder mounted in one end of the burner tube. An igniter is positioned within the nozzle holder and acts to ignite any of the multi-liquid fuels which may be used with the burner. A nozzle emits atomized liquid fuel under the venturi effect of the nozzle with compressed air being supplied to the nozzle. Primary air holes extend circumferentially around the nozzle holder to admit air radially which passes directly to the burner tube. Secondary air holes extend around the inside circumference of the burner tube on the secondary air injection plate and admit air axially to the burner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: International Thermal Investments Ltd.
    Inventors: Edgar C. Robinson, Leonard Fleming, Daniel M. Fraser
  • Patent number: 6082352
    Abstract: An oven door hinge comprises a pair of engaging devices at respective sides of the door, having a recess at the middle of each engaging device. A plural lugs are formed inside of the door for receiving covers to form a gap. The top portion of the engaging device has a through hole for receiving a connecting unit. The connecting unit has a pin extending through a spring and into the gap of the door with a portion extending into the recess. The oven has a pair of posts extending from respective sides thereof. When mounting the door onto the oven, the pin is urged by the spring to retract so that the door may be moved to the gap and the recesses of the engaging devices will be engaged with the posts, respectively, and the pin extends into the recesses to secure the door on the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Lundar Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tony Hsu
  • Patent number: 6082353
    Abstract: A method for forming a solar collector includes a panel provided with an inner bore and a deformable metal tube inserted in the bore and mechanically secured thereto by passing a plug or bullet through the tube to deform it outwardly into intimate contact with the panel such as to maximize the heat transfer therebetween and to substantially eliminate any possibility of corrosion by keeping the tube in constant compression. The tube can carry a liquid, such as water or glycol, which is heated by the panel exposed to radiant solar heat. The so formed solar collector typically uses a copper tube and an extruded aluminum panel. A number of parallel conduits connected at their opposite ends to common main inlet and outlet copper pipes may be provided with the panels of adjacent conduits mating together while allowing for relative movement therebetween but without the forming of gaps therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventor: Andrew van Doorn
  • Patent number: 6082993
    Abstract: A fuel/air mixture control for an induction heater having a tube-type burner includes a side-venting fuel nozzle for introducing fuel into an induction air stream entering the burner. A multi-speed blower draws combustion air into the burner and an air flow constrictor disposed proximate the fuel nozzle increases the velocity of the induction air stream proximate the fuel nozzle, increasing the volume of fuel introduced into the burner conduit. The fuel/air mixture depends upon the speed of the blower, which can be thermostatically controlled to increase speed upon sensing higher temperature combustion products, thereby maintaining a steady mass air flow and air/fuel mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: H-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. O'Leary, David L. Schardt, Vance Willis
  • Patent number: 6079974
    Abstract: A combustion chamber is provided that has a vertically oriented body with an inner surface defining an inner combustion area. A burner is disposed adjacent one end of the body so that the flame of the burner when lit will extend into the combustion area. A first annular insert is disposed in the combustion area and generally surrounds the flame of the burner. The annular insert defines a first secondary gas introduction zone for introducing secondary gases into the combustion area so that the secondary gases can be oxidized by the burner flame. The insert has an inner surface presenting at least one opening for allowing fluid communication between the introduction zone and the combustion area. A second annular insert is disposed in the combustion area below the first insert. The second insert defines a secondary gas extraction zone and a second secondary gas introduction zone located below the extraction zone. The gas extraction zone and second secondary gas introduction zone are separated by a divider plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley P. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6079401
    Abstract: In an appliance such as an oven for cooking food, the invention contemplates a user rotatable, single knob oven control device which provides both discrete and continuous control signals to the appliance controller. The discrete outputs indicate selection of oven features, and the continuous output the desired baking temperature. These inputs are selected by a user in response to rotation of a user interface knob mounted on a control panel. The control panel provides visual indication of oven cooking temperature selections through a first arc around the knob, and user selectable oven features (such as, e.g., OFF/CANCEL, BROIL, and CLEAN) in a second arc around the knob. The control device comprises a hub having a portion adapted to be drivably coupled to the user interface knob. The hub also includes a flange which has at least one cam. The device also includes a variable resistance element having a rotatable shaft in driving engagement with the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware
    Inventors: Robert J. Alvord, Jeffery M. Huffington, Thomas F. Glennon, Larry Motyka
  • Patent number: 6076517
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for adjusting a pressure-fluctuation free supply of gas and for controlling an operating pressure of an air/gas mixture to a radiation-gas burner of a gas cooking apparatus. The radiation-gas burner has a burner chamber and is mounted in a housing below a cover plate. The arrangement includes a gas supply conduit connectable to a gas source for receiving the gas and a pressure controller is mounted in the gas supply conduit for controlling the pressure of the gas to a constant operating pressure of at least 2.5 mbar above atmospheric pressure. A control unit is connected to the pressure controller for receiving the pressure-controlled gas and for metering the gas to the radiation-gas burner. The control unit includes a valve block having at least one exchangeable nozzle adapted to the type of gas from the gas source and a feed conduit has a clear cross-sectional area and communicates with the burner chamber. The feed conduit has an inlet opening adjacent the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Schott Glas
    Inventors: Michael Kahlke, Christof Koster, Rainer Hasse
  • Patent number: 6074201
    Abstract: A gas burner configuration for cooking areas includes a gas fitting for supplying gas to a gas burner and a first setting member for the gas fitting. An adjusting pipe is disposed in the vicinity of a gas injector nozzle configuration. The adjusting pipe can be displaced longitudinally toward the gas burner along an opening for a feed pipe supplying a gas/air mixture and can be varied through the use of a second setting member disposed in the vicinity of the first setting member, for optimizing a gas/air mixture by varying an air induction effect in an injector region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Muhle
  • Patent number: 6065468
    Abstract: A housing for an outdoor gas fired construction heater that incorporates a one-piece shell design that sits on and mounts directly to the base. Openings are used in the sides near the top and the bottom of the shell to provide the burner system with a metered amount of inlet air. Integrally formed, inwardly and downwardly projecting panels protect the burner system from debris, drafts at floor level, and to shield the floor on which the burner sits from infrared energy. In order to increase the strength of the top and shell assembly, the top sits on and is directly mounted to the shell. The shell height and top openings are of a size to allow heat out but to prevent drafts from pulling the flame out of the top of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Desa International
    Inventors: John R. Willey, Eric M. Kaltenmark, Ricky J. Fielder
  • Patent number: 6062211
    Abstract: An artificial gas log set which simulates in a very realistic fashion a log fire in a fireplace. The artificial log set comprises a log, a burner tube having ports for creating a yellow flame that is in close proximity to the log and a second set of ports for creating a blue flame which is positioned between the yellow flame and the log. The blue flame impinges on the log and acts as a separator or curtain that prevents impingement by the yellow flame on the log. This prevents the creation of unwanted and dangerous levels of emissions such as oxides of carbon and nitrogen. An alternative embodiment replaces the blue flame and its ports with duct work and exhaust gases. The exhaust gases act as a separator between the log and the yellow flame. The result is a realistic looking, simulated wood burning fireplace which may be safely used in an unvented environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignees: DESA International, Inc., Worgas Bruciatori SRL
    Inventors: John S. Thomas, Gunther Berthold